Doctors in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul are appealing for foreign treatment for five victims of violence in urgent need of neurosurgery.

Four are paraplegics injured in the war and its aftermath, including a girl and an Iraqi policeman shot accidentally by US marines in the city last week.

The fifth is a young man in danger of losing his sight after being injured in coalition bombing. Doctors say that advanced treatments not available in Iraq might restore function to some victims, and perhaps save the young man's sight.

Despite being cut off from their Baghdad supply lines, and having been partially looted last week, most Mosul hospitals are still functioning and able to treat less seriously injured patients. Dr Ayad al-Ramadhani, head of surgery at the city's Republican Hospital, said French President Jacques Chirac had promised to build a "medical bridge" between Iraq and France's advanced hospitals. He said the hospital had also asked US forces for help for the five patients, but no response had been received.

Among those featured in the appeal is Amina Assad, 11, who was shot in the shoulder last Tuesday as she stood on her home's rooftop watching a nearby clash between US marines and Iraqi protesters. The incident left between seven and 17 Iraqis dead and dozens injured. The bullet travelled through her chest and caused severe spinal injuries, paralysing her legs. Lying in her hospital bed on Saturday, Amina said that she felt "OK". She agreed to allow her picture to be taken. ");document.write("

advertisement

");
}
}
// -->

Her doctor said it was not certain whether the use of her legs could be restored in a foreign hospital, but there was no chance at all of that happening in Iraq.